The Latest: Facebook to expand New Mexico data center

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Latest on planned expansion of Facebook data center in New Mexico (all times local): 9:30 a.m. Social media giant Facebook is planning to build four more buildings as part of its data center complex in New Mexico. Gov. Susana Martinez and company officials gathered Tuesday in the rural community of Los Lunas, south of Albuquerque, to make the announcement. With the expansion, the campus will include six buildings covering nearly 2.8 million square feet (260,128 square meters). The complex will represent an investment of more than $1 billion. Martinez has previously touted Facebook as an important partner as the state works to diversify its economy. She said Tuesday that successful companies like Facebook are converting areas into hives of activity and that the city of Los Lunas and the state will see tens of millions of dollars in gross receipts tax revenues from the construction alone. ___ 7:50 a.m. Facebook is going much bigger with a planned data center in New Mexico. Gov. Susana Martinez and company officials are expected to announce expansion plans Tuesday morning for a data center in Los Lunas, a rural area just outside of Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Journal reports that the social media giant is now going to construct six buildings instead of just two, bringing its investment to $1 billion. Martinez has previously touted Facebook as an important partner as the state works to diversify its economy. New Mexico has been looking to turn the corner after a crippling budget crisis that stemmed from a downturn in the oil and natural gas sectors and an overall weak economy. The state also has struggled with high unemployment numbers. ___ Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com